MORE than 500 people gathered in Hull over the weekend to unveil a statue to commemorate 10 local people who fought in the International Brigades during the Spanish civil war.

Relatives of the volunteers and representatives from Hull Trades Council, Hull Labour Party and the International Brigade Memorial Trust watched as the monument designed by Dan Jones was revealed.

The flag of the International Brigades was also raised over Hull’s Guild Hall.

Around 35,000 people joined the International Brigades between 1936 and 1938. 

Four of the 10 Hull volunteers — Jack Atkinson, James Bentley, Morris Miller and Robert Wardle — were killed in action.

Some who returned became prominent in the community such as Joe Latus, a communist who became a director of the Hull FC rugby league club.

Hull also welcomed a large number of Spanish refugee children, many of whom stayed in the city.

Local Labour councillor and Momentum activist Aneesa Akbar paid tribute to Frida Knight, a Communist Party member who established an Aid for Spain committee in the city before volunteering to drive an ambulance to Spain in 1937.

Ms Akbar told the Star: “The decision of thousands of working-class women and men to go and defend democracy with the International Brigades marked a turning point in the worldwide fight against fascism.

“I am so proud of the people of Hull who rallied for the cause of liberty and democracy.

“We will forever be in debt to all the volunteers who made the ultimate sacrifice for the cause of humanity.”

RMT assistant general secretary Steve Hedley warned of the rise of fascism.

Paraphrasing the German poet Bertolt Brecht, Mr Hedley told the crowd that “within the capitalist system, there is always this nascent fascism.

“We will honour those who fought in Spain best by combatting people like the Democratic Football Lads Alliance today.”